Fast starts have been a Jose Mourinho trademark ever since he arrived in the Premier League. His three titles at Chelsea were all won on the back of powerful unbeaten runs launched on the opening day, forcing Sir Alex Ferguson and others to change their approach.

So when Zlatan Ibrahimovic talks about his 'vision' of becoming a champion in a fifth different country, Mourinho knows two victories from United's opening matches against Bournemouth and Southampton provides the right platform.

Furthermore, he already thinks in those couple of games, United have looked at their strongest since Ferguson retired in 2013.

Fast starts have been a Jose Mourinho trademark ever since he arrived in England

Paul Pogba (left) made his first appearance on Friday since rejoining United from Juventus

Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted twice as United continued their winning start to season

'If you are going to lose points, the later the better,' says the United boss whose marquee signings Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic could not have wished for a more promising Old Trafford debut than the 2-0 win against Southampton on Friday night, with Ibra scoring both.

'If you start losing points at the beginning of the season, then you have to chase. So it is better not to lose points.

'At this moment, it's even more important to show evolution in our game and I think we are showing that. I agree we are not playing superb but I think anyone can see there are differences in relation to the past two or three years.

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'The team is improving, the team is playing differently. The way the fans react, it is not just because of their passion for the club, it is also because they are happy with the signs of this evolution.

'The important number is to score one more goal than the opponent and at the moment we are scoring two more, so we are fine!'

Mourinho isn't ready to heap pressure on himself by making outlandish boasts about winning the league, particularly given the competition around.

Ibrahimovic is pleased with the start the team, as well as himself personally, have made

But there are similarities with this start and those he made at Chelsea. In 2005/06, they won their opening nine matches and romped the league by eight points.

But Ibrahimovic has made it clear he's not come to Manchester to finish second.

The 34-year-old Swede has an even more phenomenal winning record than his manager, finishing on top of the league for 13 of the 15 seasons he's played abroad, for seven big clubs; Ajax, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris St Germain.

His bullet header and confident penalty against The Saints showed United fans what he can bring to the party.

'I believe that we can win the title. I have this vision,' he said.

The 34-year-old was on penalty duty to secure the win against Southampton on Friday

'We need to work hard for it and will do everything to bother all the other teams that want to win.

'I'm focussing on trying to help my team win and after two games we have two wins, which is the most important thing.

'Who scores is less important, as long as we are winning. Yes, I've scored three goals so far and I'm happy for that but it is only the beginning.

'The season is long, I will work hard, the team will work hard and slowly we will get better and better so let's see what the outcome will be.

Mournho hailed the Old Trafford fans for their support in the Friday night season opener

'I feel I am becoming better with every day that goes. As long as I feel I can develop I'm happy.'

Mourinho made an appeal for United supporters to get behind their team for the start of a new era and they responded with a noise not heard when David Moyes and Louis van Gaal were in charge.

Ibrahimovic, who has graced the biggest stages like the Nou Camp and San Siro, was suitably impressed.

'The supporters are amazing and I have this feeling in every game that I've played that they are the 12th player on the field.

The display of Pogba delighted Mourinho but he's not giving the Frenchman goal targets

'I've played in many countries and many big teams and the supporters here are something else.

'It is really amazing and we should use that and give them something back and if we do this together we are going to be very successful.'

All of Mourinho's successful Premier League title campaigns were won from the front. With Chelsesa two seasons ago, they won 11 and drew three of their first 14 games.

He's happy for Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney to grab the headlines and let £89million record signing Paul Pogba do the less celebrated but probably even more important dirty work behind them.

Despite the price tag, he's not set a goal target for the 23-year-old Frenchman. 'He is not a striker, he is a midfield player,' said Mourinho pointedly.

'He will score goals in different circumstances. He can score in the air, he can score arriving in the box. He can score shooting from long distance. He will score goals but no number.'

The number important for United is how long their winning streak can go on for. Hull City are up next and Mourinho has that fast start formula down to a tee.